Posties to act as spotters in the war against illegal drugs

The posties are being trained to spot when houses or flats are being used as cannabis farms.

Council workers and other staff who are regularly out and about in the community are also being asked to help.

The move comes as part of a Lothian & Borders Police crackdown on illicit drugs.

About 100 cannabis farms have been closed across the country in the last 12 months.

Inspector Derek Fairley, who is in charge of the initiative, said: "Cannabis cultivations are a serious risk not only to the property they are sited within but to surrounding properties as well.

"The majority of cultivations fund other serious crimes such as human trafficking, prostitution and money laundering and Lothian & Borders Police are committed to ridding this menace from our society.

"It is vitally important that all members of our community are aware of the signs of a cannabis cultivation and work with us to create a safer environment.

"Early intervention and detection can stop the serious organised crime groups from continuing with their activities."

The force was today holding the first of two information seminars aimed at landlords, letting agencies and managers from the business sectors to discuss both the financial and social impact which cannabis cultivations can have on local communities and encourage greater scrutiny from such businesses when properties are let-out.

They also want to educate retailers to be able to spot the signs of purchases of equipment used in cultivation sites.

Today's "Weed Them Out" seminar was taking place at the Scottish Mining Museum in Newtongrange.

A second seminar will be held next Friday at the Ramada Hotel, Livingston.

A police spokesman said: "Lothian & Borders Police is committed to tackling the scourge of drugs within our local communities and one of the best ways to do that is to educate those very communities on the key issues surrounding various facets of the drugs trade.

"Cannabis is the most widely used illicit drug in Scotland and the UK. Its commercial cultivation is a powerful tool in funding the various criminal activities of serious organised crime groups.

"Cultivations also pose a major risk to properties, which are often gutted in order to maximise the available space to grow and cultivate cannabis.

The spokesman said setting up cultivation farms in private homes was estimated to cause damage amounting to around 15,000 in alterations to the properties.